Skip to main content

So, You Want to Build a Racing Simulator…

Let’s face it, racing cars isn’t exactly an economical hobby.

Track time can be expensive, upkeep on a track car can add up fast, and besides, not everyone has the ability to forget their responsibilities and go racing when the mood strikes.

In that case, what better way to get your racing fix than by building your very own racing simulator at home?

Not only is it way cheaper than building a track car, a sim enables you to race at iconic circuits morning, noon and night, in machinery you wouldn’t normally have access to, like Scott Speed’s own Beetle GRC.

Building a sim racer isn’t really all that hard and there’s a wide spectrum of options to suit different budgets, tastes, spaces, and types of racing.

Computer or Console?

1cc92786-77f4-4587-9de0-23fdc0082d16

This is one of the most important decisions you will make when putting together your own sim-racing space since it affects your game choices, hardware components, and display requirements. Consoles tend to be more user-friendly, while PCs can offer a more immersive experience.

There is also a considerable cost difference between an Xbox or PlayStation and a hot rod gaming computer with liquid cooling and a high-end graphics card capable dishing out dishing out 120fps race after race.

The Rig

rseat-rs1-red-white-08

If you’re trying to go racing on a shoestring budget you might not have space or resources to opt for a permanent unit like the sleek open-wheel inspired seats from Playseat, or a Rally-oriented one from RSEAT. Spec-D Tuning and KMJ Performance do offer less expensive seat and mount sets that include a place to mount everything (including a handbrake), except the screen.

Don’t worry, there are cheaper options like a portable wheel stand, but those who are ambitious and able can build their own rig from wood and old car parts since there are plenty of DIY guides floating around the internet.

Worst case, you can still get your heel-toe on using a desk and an office chair.

Wheels and Pedals

cspv3i-big_01-1000x666

Choosing the appropriate wheel and pedal setup can be one of the most difficult and daunting choices.

Logitech and Thrustmaster both make excellent entry level gear. Logitech is lauded for its consistent pedal performance and customer support, while some prefer Thrustmaster’s better-feeling steering, wider range of options, and customizable upgrade possibilities.

Higher quality gear can be had from Fanatec for more money. Many people feel Fanatec’s steering offers the most accurate force feedback, while the pedals are head and shoulders above the competition, making use of an adjustable oil-damped brake pedal and a progressive feeling clutch with a noticeable bite point.

The modular approach of sim racing means that thanks to a simple USB adapter you could use a Thrustmaster steering wheel with a Logitech shifter and Fanatec pedals for example.

Big Screen

ca-uhd-un65mu8500f-un65mu8500fxzc-dynamicgray-61747230

Lastly, your display will be a function of all the previous choices you’ve made thus far.

A gaming PC with gobs of computing power can display at a higher frame rate, so you may want to consider a 120Hz screen in order to take advantage of the superior graphics and refresh rate. Console gamers, on the other hand, won’t need anything more than a standard 60Hz screen.

If your rig is portable you’re probably going to be playing on the living room TV, but there are mounts for more permanent rigs that can support three to five separate screens for a full 180-degree field of view. If money is no object, consider investing in a new curved OLED television for the best experience possible.

There is one final option that’s quickly growing in popularity among sim racers: virtual reality headsets.

Popular sim-racing platform iRacing was supporting Oculus Rift even before the technology went mainstream, while rival platform Live for Speed has been focusing on VR since last year.

VR offers you the advantage of full 360-degree vision, along with total immersion into the game, and it also replaces your need for a screen, which could be appealing to those with space constraints.

This article first appeared on AutoGuide

The post So, You Want to Build a Racing Simulator… appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2s5ovCf
via IFTTT

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Saying Goodbye to the CC V6

For all its size and its global reach, Volkswagen is still, in many ways, a deeply human company. There was, for instance, the Bugatti Veyron an ego project if ever there was one. Then the purchase of Ducati, a move most called folly. And then there was the Phaeton, the Volkswagen that most folks can’t afford. Not only were these moves all strange, I’m sure that they made VW’s accountants furious. None of them made good business sense, but they were all deeply interesting and they all are evidence of the heart that beats at the center of VW. Among these follies is the CC, a car that everyone agrees is rakishly handsome, but that no one really wanted to buy. The car couldn’t last, but the world is brighter for its having been in it. With the approach debut of the Arteon, it seems like a good time to look back on its sadly departing predecessor. The version I drove, because I live in Canada, is a V6 Wolfsburg Edition, which apparently isn’t available in the States. Nor is the V6, not as...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan

Filed under: Government/Legal , Green , Mitsubishi , Fuel Efficiency , Japan Mitsubishi says its shady fuel-economy test practices may have been used on all vehicles it sells and has sold in Japan. Continue reading Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan Mitsubishi admits it lied about MPG ratings for all vehicles in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2016 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments from Autoblog Volkswagen http://ift.tt/21X3bHv
Post a Comment
Read more

More 3.0-Liter TDI Settlement Details Expected by January 31

Volkswagen and the TDI Plaintiff’s Steering Committee were in court today for another status conference following the agreement in principal reached earlier this week. Little new information was given at the conference held before Judge Charles Breyer today, but the court ordered the parties to develop a formal settlement agreement, class action notices, and a class notice plan by January 31, 2017. For now, though, owners still don’t know how much to expect in compensation. Elizabeth Cabraser, lead Counsel for the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee reaffirmed in a statement today that the compensation would be “substantial.” The potential cost to Volkswagen is widely reported to exceed $1 billion, though, with an additional $225 million going into an environmental trust to help offset excess emissions. Buy back offers are still only expected for the oldest 20,000 of the roughly 80,000 VW Group vehicles sold in America with the 3.0-liter TDI engine. Those vehicles are mostly SUVs, like ...
Post a Comment
Read more